Better Fullstack vs create-expo-app
create-expo-app is Expo's official command-line tool to "create and set up a new Expo and React Native project". Its templates range from a blank app to the default template with Expo Router and TypeScript, and it can also start from any project in the expo/examples repository.
Better Fullstack includes Expo as one of its frontend options. Besides the app itself, it can configure navigation, styling, device storage, testing, push notifications, over-the-air updates, and a set of Expo libraries, and it can place the mobile app next to a web app and a backend in one monorepo.
Facts about create-expo-app checked against its public repository and documentation on 2026-10-06.
| At a glance | Better Fullstack | create-expo-app |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Mobile app, optionally with web and backend apps | An Expo and React Native app |
| Starting points | Expo + StyleSheet, Expo + Uniwind, Expo + Unistyles | default, blank, blank-typescript, tabs, bare-minimum, or an expo/examples project |
| Navigation | Expo Router or React Navigation | Expo Router in the default and tabs templates |
| UI and styling | Tamagui, gluestack-ui, Uniwind, Unistyles | Template defaults or examples |
| Device features | MMKV, push notifications, OTA updates, deep linking, Expo libraries | Added after scaffolding |
| Backend / API | 26 API options, backends across 8 ecosystems | Not included |
| Interfaces | CLI, visual web builder, MCP server for AI agents | CLI (interactive prompts or flags) |
What create-expo-app gives you
The default template is a multi-screen app with Expo Router and TypeScript. The tabs template adds file-based tab navigation, blank and blank-typescript keep dependencies minimal, and bare-minimum includes the native directories. The --example flag starts from a project in the expo/examples repository, --yes accepts the defaults, and the tool also writes an AGENTS.md file unless you pass --no-agents-md.
What Better Fullstack adds
Better Fullstack treats the mobile app as part of a larger selection. You choose the styling approach (StyleSheet, Uniwind, or Unistyles), navigation (Expo Router or React Navigation), and optional pieces such as Tamagui or gluestack-ui, MMKV storage, Maestro or React Native Testing Library, expo-notifications, expo-updates, expo-linking, and Expo libraries like expo-camera or expo-location.
The same command can add a web frontend and a backend with an API layer, auth, and payments (including RevenueCat), so the mobile and web clients share one project and one set of compatibility rules.
When create-expo-app is the right choice
Pick create-expo-app when you are building a standalone mobile app and want to follow the Expo documentation step by step, or when an existing example in expo/examples already matches what you need.
Try the closest Better Fullstack equivalent
The expo-bare preset scaffolds an Expo app with no backend: `bun create better-fullstack@latest my-app --template expo-bare`. The uniwind preset does the same with Uniwind styling.
Frequently asked questions
Does Better Fullstack generate a standard Expo project?
Yes. The mobile options generate Expo and React Native code that uses the libraries you selected directly, so the usual Expo tooling and documentation apply.
Can create-expo-app set up a backend?
Its templates are mobile apps. A backend can come from an example in expo/examples or be set up separately.
Can one Better Fullstack project contain a web app and a mobile app?
Yes. A project can include a web frontend and an Expo app side by side, sharing a backend and API layer.
Try it in the builder
Configure any stack visually and get a ready-to-run command - every combination is compatibility-checked.
bun create better-fullstack@latestSee how Better Fullstack compares to other tools on the full comparison page.